Do you really need to walk 10,000 steps a day? Is it the secret to good health? We take stock.

Rumour has it that walking 10,000 steps a day is necessary to stay healthy.

The origin of this number comes from the 1960 Tokyo Olympics. An advertising campaign was carried out for "manpo-kei", the first pedometer in history, which set a target of 10,000 steps per day. The number stuck, in particular because many studies have relied on it, to reveal the benefits of daily walking. 

The Effects Of Walking 10,000 Steps A Day

The National Library of Medicine has proven taking 10,000 steps a day improves cardiovascular health, mental health and could reduce the risk of diabetes. 

Another study, conducted by the University of Sydney, highlights that this daily walk could also reduce the risk of dementia and developing cancers.

A journalist from Cosmopolitan UK tested taking 10,000 steps a day for a month to see what changes it could bring to her body. She walked outdoors in her free time or on a treadmill during her breaks. As a result, the journalist felt "exhausted" since she sometimes got up earlier to walk. On the scale, she saw no difference, but her physical condition improved. She explains: "Towards the end of the month, I felt less out of breath after each walking session and my glutes were firmer." The difference was mainly seen in her mental health, since the journalist writes that she felt like she was overcoming the anxiety accumulated during the day, week or month, thanks to walking. It was a way to "get rid of negative energy that I had accumulated." Walking is regularly cited by studies as a method to relieve stress and anxiety. 

So, there are good reasons to put on your sneakers and go for a walk. However, there is no need to put yourself under pressure, if you do not take 10,000 steps per day, it does not matter, since the most important thing is to get out of the house to do some physical activity.

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